Turkey's main opposition splits as Ozgur Ozel launches new party
Turkish opposition leader Ozgur Ozel is splitting from the Republican People's Party (CHP) to form a new political party following a court ruling that reinstated a former leader. Ozel claims this move is a necessary step toward governing the country despite the political crisis.
Why it matters
This split could significantly alter the landscape of Turkish politics and the effectiveness of the opposition against the current government.
Turkey's opposition leader Ozgur Ozel announced on Tuesday that he and his allies will resign from the country's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and form a new political party, marking a major split in the opposition as it faces an ongoing legal crackdown.The move follows a court ruling in May that stripped Ozel of his position as CHP chairman by annulling the party's 2023 congress and reinstating former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.Ozel and his supporters have described the ruling as politically motivated, while the Turkish government has denied any interference, insisting the judiciary acts independently, according to Reuters.Ozel says new party marks 'new beginning'Addressing more than 80 CHP lawmakers in parliament, Ozel said the decision to leave the party was not a retreat but the start of a new phase of opposition politics."Today, we are on the brink of a sad farewell that has become inevitable and whose time has…
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